Peirsol add silver to metal collection

Newport Harbor High graduate Aaron Peirsol captured his second medal

at the 2003 World Championships in Barcelona, Spain on Wednesday,

picking up a silver medal with a second-place finish as part of the

800-meter freestyle relay team.

Peirsol, who won a gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke Tuesday,

swam the third leg of the relay for the U.S. Though his time was the

slowest among the four American swimmers, the U.S. held the lead

through the first three legs of the race.

But Australia, the world-record holders in the event, had Ian

Thorpe as an anchor and his split of 1:44.41 lifted the Aussies to

the gold medal despite a 1:45.99 split by American Klete Keller, the

fastest relay split by an American ever.

The relay team, which also included Michael Phelps and Nate

Dusing, finished with a time of 7:10.26, a new American record, more

than a second faster than the old mark of 7:11.81. Australia’s

winning time was 7:08.58, well off their world-record mark of

7:04.66.

Peirsol, who won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in the

200 backstroke, will begin competition in that event today. He will

also compete in the 50 back Saturday and Sunday.